BOSTON -- Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters on Friday that while improving the quality of addiction recovery services in Massachusetts remains one of his top priorities, he does not support a proposal currently circulating through the Boston City Council that would pay for recovery programs through a new local tax on alcohol.

"I am not much on new taxes, I think we should be working within the existing finances that are available," said Baker.

Baker said he was receptive to new and sometimes unorthodox local proposals currently being implemented around the state to battle drug addiction.

"If the folks in Gloucester want to pursue a strategy that involves a treatment approach to this I say, 'Let's see what happens.' I get the fact that there are contours there that are going to have to operate under existing law and that's important but it think we should be willing to try a lot of different things. This is a big problem and nobody has got 100% of an answer," said Baker, nodding to Gloucester's decision to change the way they handle drug users.

Like Baker, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh has made addiction recovery a focal point of his administration but unlike the governor he remains open to the city council's proposal.

"As evidenced by the report we released in May and the launch of our first-ever Office of Recovery Services, as well as my own experiences, I'm keenly aware of the need for increased resources to focus on addiction and recovery. I applaud the City Council for looking for a creative approach, and look forward to reviewing the proposal," said Walsh in a statement.